Good morning all.
Garry: this might seem like a dumb question, but are there tides on your lake? It has been interesting to read your updates on the stuck cruise ship.
We had a smaller dinner cruise boat get stuck on a sandbar a few years back, but they just used three Shrimp Boats to pull it off at high tide. Not anything like what is happening up there.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning ...
Douglas .... You posted some great photos.
Ed ..... I like your photos and the video too.
David .... I watched your video about the munitions factory with women workers. Thanks for sharing it.
Lion ... It is good to see your photo of the subway train.
Bear .... LOL
....
The continuing saga about the cruise ship (American Jazz) ...
While boating yesterday I took photos of it. We can see it as soon as we get out of our bay. A fuel barge was there. Apparently, it had delivered fuel becasue it was backing up into the main channel. In the distance ahead, we could see what looked like a construction barge which might be for dredging. We did not continue boating in that direction because of the fuel barge moving into the channel ahead of us. We made a u-turn and went in the other direction.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good morning everyone! Chloe, a large cup of joe and a piece of coffee cake please.
Got a couple Accurail kits put together and on the layout that my daughter gave me for my birthday. Got some more work done on the bridge project I've been chipping away at. Actually feel kind of productive on the layout front this week!
Work has been insane this week. We have been in a maintenance turnaround and I'm being pulled 1000 different directions. It's good to be needed, but dang! There was a relatively brief email I needed to get sent out Monday morning. It got sent yesterday afternoon. At least when one of the managers called me yesterday looking for clarification on some requirements that were creating some confusion and tension he said he wanted to hear it straight from the horses mouth. Could have called me the other end of that animal!
Well, I hear the next avalanche heading my way. Got to go.
Mike
PM Railfan(on second thought, who here would mind more train pics?)
Sign me up
This has to be somewhere in your neck o' the woods, Douglas:
RFnP by Edmund, on Flickr
I was fortunate enough to have ridden the original Auto-Train in 1970 and again in '72. For some reason I do vividly recall the station and train hostesses in hotpants and pretty blouses. Don't know if ol' George Pullman would have agreed with that but I didn't mind
2016_slides_0057 (2016_08_17 08_08_12 UTC) by Edmund, on Flickr
Spent some time in St. Pete on the second of those trips.
Dec_2015_0014 by Edmund, on Flickr
I probably still have that jacket way back in my closet!
Dec_2015_FLA1_74 by Edmund, on Flickr
Fun Times!
Here's a very enjoyable video to go with your morning Joe:
I hope the flooding in Germany has not seriously affected Ulrich or any other friends or family here. The devastation is astronomical.
Cheers, Ed
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Sorry TF but........ POST HOG ALERT!
SeeYou190 ...but I really don't know anything. If you’re Having Fun, does it really matter?!!! Douglas by Bear, on Flickr
SeeYou190 ...but I really don't know anything.
Douglas by Bear, on Flickr
PM Railfan However, i thought you were a Railfan just like us.... you had me fooled if your not
I am a railfan like I am a birdwatcher.
I love to photograph birds, but I cannot tell an Ibis from am Egret.
I love trains, but I barely know anything about them. That is why I love this forum so much. Great people teach me new things every day.
Kevin: Thank you kindly for the compliments. However, i thought you were a Railfan just like us.... you had me fooled if your not .
Besides, I think ED prolly gets the silver tongue award around here. Hes way ahead of me, and I like the way Doc Wayne talks too, if you can get him too. They write way better than I as far as Railfans go.
Ive always wanted to author literature on the subject of Railroads/Railfanning. But really, what could i say that the great ones in our hobby already havent?
Not to mention, i speak funny, and cant speel worth a hoot. But do stay tuned, I have more to come over the next few days.
And if it aint tooooo much of a stretcher, since i did (and am now) spend alot of time in this forsaken place... i was thinking of expanding my theme of the month to include my ventures into Southern territory. Thats like a second 'home' so im not sure it counts towards this month if we was to be splitting hairs.
(on second thought, who here would mind more train pics?)
Douglas
Douglas: That was an excellent post about the RF&P. You guys that are real railfans just blow me away. I can say things like "this engine sure looks neat", and "I saw this weird looking thing", but I really don't know anything.
It was good reading.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Hello Railfans!
Top of the day to yas! Ready for some more homegrown Railfanning? Well, if you can peel your peepers aways from the ultra scantily clad babe to the right of the thread, read on.....
To recap - my hometown was the halfway point of the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad. I have some more pics of that, plus a few of a lesser known lil railway called the Virginia Central.
The VC was pretty much gone by the 1980's due to lack of intelligent use by a town who didnt realize its potential. Once aimed at Orange Virginia (30 mi southwest of F'Burg) by the time i was old enough to walk its tracks.... thats about all that was left. And only a mile or so at that. I have a few shots of it though.
So all in all, we have the RF&P (now CSX), Amtrak, and the VC serving F'Burg, in the heyday of railroading. While the VC heading out of town to the left, on the north side of the river the RF&P had a branch heading east to Dalghren Va. - the "Dalghren branch". Lets take a look, shall we?
Out to pasture:
The building you see in the background left used to be the old jail. This whole scene has changed - ripped up and paved over. Even the jail. Better a bike trail than a railroad, right?
There's a Bev-Bel model of this, and the green VC boxcars too:
VC #3: (not my picture)
This was the last loco to operate on the VC, and one I remember seeing.
Optical illusions:
Now if you can guess the approximate distance betwixt #125 and that pole, i will buy you a virtual drink of your choice if you come closest! (answer tomarow with pic)
A blast from the past:
Further north of F'Burg was the "Lorton Terminal". Northern most terminus of the famed 'Auto-Train'. Here we see the car carriers stored on their siding next to the RF&P main. The terminal itself is hardly bigger than a Wendy's parking lot.
A few decades ago when it was refurbished (i dont recall exactly when), AmTrak had a lead track put in that paralleled Interstate Parking Lot 95 northward passed the terminal. At the end of this lead was a brand new turntable. Id have to google satellite Lorton now to see if its still there. You wont catch me in that part of Va even to Railfan again.
A northbound evening AmTrak:
This is the south end of town at probably the only spot left to Railfan in F'Burg. Called "Hamilton's Crossing". There is a crossing at grade just behind the train. The trees to the right used to mark the end of one of F'Burgs Civil War Battlegrounds - prolly paved over and an empty strip mall there now for all i know. The track in the forground is a spur leading from town, along the main southward that terminates at a tie creosote plant (behind train and to the left). Behind me are other industries served by the RF&P.... Delco-Moraine (GM Transmission plant) and FMC. Both long gone even though the tracks are still there.
Now-a-days this spur is used for VRE to keep them off RF&P tracks. A mile behind the train is a new 'end of line' yard and facility for VRE that was put in after they extended the spur.
Dalghren Jct.:
Heres a northbound AmTrak blazing passed the junction. New signals (then), and the forground track is the line to Dalghren. Still used today by CSX. When it was RF&P, there was a meat packing plant, a large stone quarry, and an access to the Dalghren NSWC proving grounds (where the navy is testing their railguns).
Now, theres a coal fired power plant close to where the quarry used to be plus we dont mine rock anymore, were filling in the hole with trash from New Jersey. Trash trains and coal drags rule here now. And I think (not sure) the trackage to NSWC has been removed.
Dalghren Jct marks the bottom of a grade northward to Potomac Creek. In the 70's before the emissions laws took hold.... on a summers night, calm and still, your bedroom window up in hopes of a cool breeze.... you could hear the local scream for a half hour heading out of town up this grade. No matter where you lived in town! Yes, notch 8 all the way!
Well, thats all for todays lesson folks. See ya tomarow night.
Clear Ahead!
When I returned from my trip a couple of weeks ago I found my Hibiscus out front had died.
I cut it way back, and sprinkled some Miracle Grow onto it.
Today, it looks like it is making a comeback. This is a pleasant surprise.
Good evening Diners.
Lion. Love the big pussycats.
On my layout I mention Number 1 Filling Station at Barnbow, Leeds. I admire the Barnbow Lasses and the work they did. Here is a short animation, aimed at schoolchildren, to emphasise the work they did.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
ROAR...
Our elevator is still not working... And that is going on three or four weeks now. Too many stairs to climb, but since I am getting better at it, I will go up to the train room, clean somme track and adjust my subway fleet. Then at least I can run the trains.
(That is not on my layout : ( ButI have to get my server working again to start posting my trains again.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
gmpullmanPlus three curved turnouts (re: Walthers turnout thread )
And they look great!
Thanks Ed.
Good morning ..... I'll have coffee and a donut, please.
I see a lot of interesting posts since I posted yesterday.
TF ..... Apparently, you posted just before me and I missed your nice pictures of the GP9.
Ed .... I like your photos of early Amtrak, MKP PA1's, and a GTW Mike.
Brent .... Thanks for the video. I like the pictures of the McKeen car and the diesel shop.
John York 1 ..... I bet your Mississippi cruise was nice as you said.
Dave Critter .... I'm glad you posted pictures of your model of a McKeen car. I recall you have done that before but it has been a while. You certainly did good work with that model. I used one of the NWSL drives to repower my Bachmann doodlebug, and I am happy with the result. .... Your "preeching" is a good message.
Kevin ... Regarding RR history. SCL was formed with the merger of Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard RR. As a kid, I had a trip to Sarasota by train. The IC City of Miami had a through sleeper to and from Sarasota. It went on the ACL between Jacksonville and Tampa, and a small ACL train between Tampa and Sarasota. ..... I like the pictures of locomotives you posted. Paint schemes of the sugar company are sweet.
Douglas ... I like your RF&_ Pictures.
Ed .... That's a good RF&P picture too.
David ... Thanks for sharing the video.
John York 1 .... Nice pictures of Omaha stations. ... Yes, my Walthers Union Station was based on the Burlinton station in Omaha.
Everybody .... Have a good day.
York1This will be my last meal in the diner for a while. I'll let you know how the vacation goes.
I hope you are having fun. See you when you get back.
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and coffee please, Chloe.
Dave, thanks for all the information about the Doodlebugs. Also Brent, thanks for the Doodlebug photo. I didn't know these even existed until a short time ago. I'm really going to have to consider if I'm up to building one.
Douglas and several of you other 80s guys, I'm not digging through old embarrassing pictures, but we 60s guys had all of you beat on the long hair down our backs. Hippie hair. That's right! At one time I had hair.
I know I've posted this before, and I believe Garry (forgive me if it's someone else) has a model of one of these stations. Omaha, Nebraska, had the Union Pacific Station and the Burlington station sitting on opposite side of the tracks, connected by overhead walkways. On the left is the Burlington, and on the right sits the UP.
Today, the Union station is the Durham Museum, and the Burlington station is the ABC TV local affiliate.
This is what the Union station looks like today:
This train used to run through Nebraska. I wish I could have stood by the track watching one of these come by:
This will be my last meal in the diner for a while. I'll let you know how the vacation goes.
Hope everyone is doing well.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Good afternoon all. A large coffee please, Zoe.
A sunny morning with some showers later.
A morning playing cricket.
Those of you following my layout Leeds Sovereign Street & Clarence Dock will know I have a small locomotive yard at Crown Point Yard.
A film of around the actual area.
A little RF&P action for you, Douglas.
RFnP_Richmond by Edmund, on Flickr
At first I thought it was a rainy day then realized that's all spilled diesel fuel on the ground toward the center and left!
Plus three curved turnouts (re: Walthers turnout thread )
Regards, Ed
Top of the evening to yas! Hope everyone is well, im still kicking for all im worth over here. In keeping with this months theme, enjoy the following.....
Through the town in which i reluctantly have to call home runs a Class 1 bridge railroad. The Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.
One of RF&P's logos...
Here is a map of the RF&P and major connections from a matchbook souvenier....
I posted last nyt (or tried to rather) a few pics I took from the 80's. Heres what you didnt get to see:
RF&P 125 basking in the sun...
This one i cant explain, RF&P in Roanoke Va.... (not my picture)
And heres one for Kevin, who should know this train....
Now-a-days folks know the RF&P in memory only as the 90's brought about CSX. Gone is the Blue and Grey, gone are the gorgeous geeps, and the OJ special is now dirty white - no longer orange.
Even the Auto-Train has changed skins. Once a handsome purple red and white, now dawns the familiar colors of AmTrak. And if im not mistaken, is still AmTraks largest operating passenger train.
Other AmTraks operate here, along with the ever growing Virginia Rail Express (VRE). An expanding commuter line clogging up the main, shuttling day to day grinders to and fro from F'Burg to the District of Corruption. Otherwise known as Wash. DC.
(VRE also operates out of Alexandria Va down the Southern main thru Manassas and on to Culpepper now [I think]).
Now im not sure if im still following our theme, but for the last 6 years ive been temporarily misplaced out here in the sticks. And it seems to have become my 'home' for now, unfortunately. Ive Railfanned these parts as long as i have the RF&P, so i figured id share this next one.
611's last ride through Asheville....
Someone above mentioned something about cab shots? I agree. Got one of those too....
Lastly, while some were exploring dress ties, long hair, and left coast music.... we over here on the right coast didnt wear ties (we tore off our sleeves ), grew ours longer, and made our own music. In that order.
Heh - the 80's! Best time to be young and dangerous!
Youd never know that guy was a Railfan . Have a great evening everyone!
A#1 North!
Heartland Division CB&QKevin .... The Seminole Gulf pictures are interesting. Is that short line on former Atlantic Coast Line tracks ?
Garry, I am not much of a railroad historian, so take this as "guess" at best.
Both the ACL and the SCL had tracks to Fort Myers, Florida. The ACL abandon the tracks in Fort Myers first, then somehow SCL/Family Lines ended up being part of CSX. CSX almost immediately abandon running in Fort Myers and sold the trackage to Fay Railroad Holdings, which ran the SEMINOLE GULF in Sarasota. They sent some obsolete equipment to Fort Myers in the early 1990s, and the SGLR has been here ever since. I have been told that the Fay family no longer has anything to do with the SGLR.
Sorry for being such a poorly informed railfan.
This is our other "local" railroad that I photograph from time to time, the UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION.
I have wondered why, since United States Sugar is a private company, and not really a railroad, shouldn't the markings be USSX instead of USSC?
United States Sugar has really deep pockets, and their equipment is always beautiful.
York1Since I'm still fairly new to railroading (three years), I don't remember seeing too much about these cars. I was looking for Nebraska trains, and some of these popped up. They really intrigued me.
Hi again John,
There is a website dedicated to the Mckeen cars:
https://mckeencar.com/
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
York1I'm nowhere near skilled enough to tackle something like that. I think I will probably look for a more conventional ready-to-run model.
Don't sell yourself short! None of the process required any sort of special tools. I used my Dremel and a drill bit to clean up the casting. I used standard small files, various pliers and a coping saw to make the bits for the front truck. The mock engine came from a Life Like generator model.
Without wishing to preach, there is an old saying:
If you think you can do something, or if you think you can't do something, you are right!
Okay, I'll admit that I was preaching! Sorry!
Edit:
Apparently there were some brass models made:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/89378.aspx
Cheers!!
Dave, that's an amazing model! You do great work.
I'm nowhere near skilled enough to tackle something like that. I think I will probably look for a more conventional ready-to-run model.
Since I'm still fairly new to railroading (three years), I don't remember seeing too much about these cars. I was looking for Nebraska trains, and some of these popped up. They really intrigued me.
Thanks for the view of your work!
York1 I need some help with my photos today. I've found some pictures of Doodlebugs that had notations that these were used by Union Pacific in Nebraska. I have never heard of them in this state before, but these pictures indicate the photos were taken here. I think they are pretty neat, and if they were used on the UP or Burlington in Nebraska, I would like to try to find one for my layout. If anyone can help, it's appreciated. I have one more day, then I probably won't answer back for a while, but I am grateful for any help. Have a good day, everyone.
I need some help with my photos today. I've found some pictures of Doodlebugs that had notations that these were used by Union Pacific in Nebraska. I have never heard of them in this state before, but these pictures indicate the photos were taken here.
I think they are pretty neat, and if they were used on the UP or Burlington in Nebraska, I would like to try to find one for my layout.
If anyone can help, it's appreciated. I have one more day, then I probably won't answer back for a while, but I am grateful for any help.
Have a good day, everyone.
Hi John,
What you are looking at is a McKeen Motor Car, probably built somewhere around 1907. They are available as a static model resin kit from Funaro and Camerlengo. If you want a running model it takes a bit of work. I did one a few years ago:
This is the basic kit. I have added the roof vents. The vents that come with the kits aren't accurate:
The rivet detail on the sides of the shell is great, but there are no rivets on the roof. I used rivet decals to fix that:
I built the front truck from scratch using NWSL wheels:
I used a NWSL power truck at the rear:
I made a front pilot because the supplied casting was pretty crude:
I did a detailed interior with lighting:
Here is the finished project:
I had never done anything like this before. I don't think any of it was particularly difficult but it was time consuming. The front truck suffered from a few false moves. That was the most difficult part but it works fine. Even the suspension works.
If you are interested in doing such a project I would be happy to walk you through it. I can tell you that the Mckeen car draws a lot of attention at the train shows!
Henry, when we lived in New Orleans, we took a Mississippi cruise in the early 1990s. It was a Big Band themed cruise, and Bob Crosby and the Bearcats was the band. Lots of dancing, good food, good drinks, and fun games. It was a short three-day cruise, and we had a great time.
It was neat to see all the plantation houses from the river.
If you are subject to sea sickness, those river cruises are the way to go -- smooth!
I don't have access to any pictures of it, but it was similar to this:
Edit: Top of the Page! For most of us, (sorry David and Bear), it's the time of evening for a good glass of wine. Everyone can have a glass on me. After the first one, the rest you pay for.
Evening all, another perfect day on the left side.
Big dog show this weekend and the throngs have decended on our house. There is a massive grooming convention going on in the back as the hub bub begins. I am hiding in my office as the dog hair is thicker than fire smoke.
On the way home from Costco today there was a fire in a field next to the road at a railway crossing. Too big for those of us that stopped to handle and the sirens were coming so we got out of the way. News said it grew to over an acre before they got it under of control.
Last night we had to go somewhere and it was a forty minute drive each way through the rural countryside, it was a perfect evening with hardly a car on the road. No traffic lights and a couple of stop signs only confirmed how much I don't miss the rat pit of suburbia.
Daughter went to get covid vaccine #2 and can leave in 3 minutes. Last time a hunky firefighter gave her the shot, not so lucky this time. I am talking to her on FB.
We have the West Coast Railway Heritage Park just North of Vancouver in Squamish. I took a bunch of kids there a couple of tiimes and they loved it as they could climb all over the equipment and go in the locos.
Well it is going to be a very busy weekend at the homestead with the dogshow, first one since the covid restrictions have been lifted.
B.C.Rail shop.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Mr B I was going to recommend a restaurant in Fenwick Is, but Fin Alley has closed according to google. Too bad they had great rockfish.
Liquid Assets at 9301 Coastal Hwy we liked.
Rain! woo hoo. We had 1/4" earlier and then on my 1 mile walk around the neighborhood the skies opened up. I had to take shelter in a porta potty at a house underconstruction and phone my wife for a rescue. That dumped another 1/2" It is now raining for a third time.
I was looking at Virtural Railfan's daily recap and there was a riverboat in Iowa. I had forgotten there are still touristy riverboats. I have no desire to go on an ocean cruise, except maybe Alaska, but the Mississippi might be fun.
Has anyone been on one or know anyone who has been on one?
https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Heartland Division CB&QEverybody .... Keep on posting pictures of trains if you want. ...... Have a nice night.
I like that idea.
Smile!
Builder_Stop by Edmund, on Flickr
This is in Painesville, Ohio, about five miles from where I now live:
NKP_PE6 by Edmund, on Flickr
The Grand Trunk Western ran some of the nicest looking USRA Pacifics and Mikes I've ever seen:
GTW 3754 by Edmund, on Flickr
Better get a flagman on that REA truck!
Time for dinner!